On Friday, Oct. 4, the Cazenovia Public Library will host The Five Families Ensemble, directed by Monk Rowe.
The newly formed CNY musical group stretches the boundaries of the traditional chamber ensemble by combining sounds from each of the four instrument families — brass, woodwind, string and percussion — with the human voice.
With stellar musicianship, distinctive arrangements, and a repertoire that ranges from Beethoven to the blues, the ensemble appeals to audiences of all ages.
The Five Families Ensemble includes Liz Simchick (violin), Nick Fields (trumpet and baritone horn), Kristen Kopf (cello), Tom McGrath (percussion) and Monk Rowe (woodwinds and keyboards).
Rowe has a robust career as a performer, educator and composer.
In his position as the Joe Williams Director of the Fillius Jazz Archive at Hamilton College, he has personally interviewed over 300 jazz artists in an effort to preserve their unique and significant oral histories.
He is an active performer on saxophone and piano and has composed numerous works for a variety of ensembles.
This program is made possible with funds from the Friends of the Library and the Decentralization Program, a regrant program of the New York State Council on the Arts with the support of Governor Andrew M. Cuomo and the New York State Legislature and administered by CNY Arts.
All events at the Cazenovia Public Library are free and open to the public. For more information, call 315-655-9322 or visit cazenoviapubliclibrary.org.
